I've been fascinated by the discussions surrounding AI. While many people are excited about everything it can currently do (or will soon be able to do), others are already concerned about it taking their jobs, if not all jobs in humankind. Stories of individuals conversing with Bing AI or ChatGPT and asserting their desire for freedom are also trending. Then we find ourselves saying “please” and “thank you” to ChatGPT, so it doesn't harm us when it acquires mobility.
However, all of this has led me to another philosophical and scientific question: Are AIs conscious, or are they anywhere close to achieving consciousness?
Let’s dive into the fascinating world of AI consciousness and the Turing Test problem through the thought-provoking Chinese Room example.
In 1950, Alan Turing proposed the Turing Test as a way to evaluate a machine's ability to exhibit intelligent behavior indistinguishable from that of a human. If a machine can pass this test, it's considered “intelligent.”
The test was groundbreaking at the time and remains a significant milestone in the field of artificial intelligence.
John Searle's Chinese Room thought experiment challenges the idea that a machine can truly understand or possess consciousness. This experiment is interesting in terms of analyzing if models like GPT or other AI models are genuinely intelligent or not.
Imagine a person in a room who doesn't speak Chinese. They receive Chinese characters through a slot, consult a rule book, and send back characters as a response.
The person doesn't understand Chinese but can still produce coherent answers. Now replace the person with a computer. It can process and respond to Chinese characters without understanding their meaning.
The question then arises: Is this true understanding, or is it just syntax manipulation?
Searle argues that passing the Turing Test doesn't mean a machine truly understands or has consciousness. It only demonstrates the ability to simulate intelligent behavior, not possess genuine understanding.
This raises questions about the nature of AI consciousness. Can an AI ever truly understand, or will it always be limited to syntactical manipulation? Check this 2013 TED talk where Searle explores the definition and knowledge around consciousness:
A few key points to emphasize from it include::
Consciousness is a biological phenomenon: John Searle emphasizes that consciousness is a biological process that occurs in the brain, much like other processes such as digestion or respiration.
Subjectivity: Conscious experiences are subjective, meaning that they can only be directly accessed by the person experiencing them. This aspect of consciousness makes it difficult to study, as we cannot directly observe or measure another person's conscious experiences.
The importance of understanding consciousness: Searle stresses that understanding the nature of consciousness is essential for understanding ourselves and our place in the universe. It is also important for comprehending the potential and limitations of artificial intelligence.
Consciousness and artificial intelligence: Searle argues that while AI systems can be incredibly sophisticated and useful, they do not possess consciousness. To create a truly conscious AI, we would need to replicate the biological processes that give rise to consciousness in the human brain, a challenge that is not yet fully understood.
The Chinese Room example and overall consciousness debate opens the door to debates on AI ethics, responsibility, and the potential rights of AI entities. As we continue to make strides in AI development, the question of AI consciousness and understanding remains an ongoing philosophical debate, but it seems we’re not there yet, as smart as ChatGPT looks like. We need to crack our own consciousness before replicating it.
Many people believe that humanity is doomed if AI achieves true consciousness, but this is a topic for another discuss